Angular and React in Web Development
Some people say a comparison of Angular and React for front-end development is pointless. While both are made with JavaScript, React is a library, and Angular is a TypeScript-based framework.
However, I think you can and even should compare them, as both can deliver great apps, and support even the most demanding digital business objectives. Both had pretty big updates in 2024, which made comparing them even more important. So today we will go over the benefits of React.js and Angular. I’ll make a classic head-to-head comparison to help you decide if you should use Angular or React.
Not really in the mood for reading? Watch the video instead!
What is React.js?
React is a JavaScript library developed at Facebook (now Meta) and released in 2013. This open-source project has gained popularity for its ability to build fast, responsive, and beautiful user interfaces. With its component-based architecture, React also allows developers to efficiently create reusable UI elements, making it easier to manage complex applications.
It combines development simplicity (thanks to small pieces of code called React components) and a strong focus on user experience. React is the View layer of the MVC model, which gives you almost total freedom in choosing Model and Controller libraries. React comes with a set of browser extensions and developer tools.
The library’s evolution continues with React 19, which introduces features like Actions for handling pending states, new hooks for state management, and enhanced Server Components for better server-side rendering and static site generation.
Disadvantages and Advantages of React
Now, let’s look at some advantages and disadvantages of React from a business perspective.
✅ Pros |
❌ Cons |
Cost-effectiveness |
The high pace of development |
Great UX |
View part only |
Popularity |
|
Performance |
|
SEO-friendly |
|
Shortened time to market |
If you want to find out more, we prepared a detailed summary of React JS pros and cons and a React JS FAQ.
Use Cases for React
Facebook isn’t the only company taking advantage of React and its possibilities. React applications and websites work for all companies, no matter the size.
Single-Page Applications (SPAs) – React’s virtual DOM and component-based structure make it ideal for SPAs that require fast updates without full-page reloads. Example: Facebook
Mobile Development (React Native) – React’s ecosystem includes React Native, allowing developers to build cross-platform mobile applications with a shared codebase. Example: Shopify
E-commerce Platforms – React’s reusability and ecosystem support (e.g., with Next.js for SEO) make it useful for e-commerce sites. Example: E-Bay
What is Angular?
Angular is a complete framework created by Google for building web applications. While React is based on JavaScript, Angular uses TypeScript. And unlike React, Angular is a full-fledged MVC framework (Model-View-Controller) so once you learn it well, you won’t need other solutions.
Angular is an open-source project and a result of rewriting AngularJS, which was the first version of the framework.
Important note: Google stopped supporting AngularJS on the 31st of December 2021 and support fully further Angular development:
We’re incredibly proud of the work that has been done with AngularJS and the way it evolved into its successor, Angular, which empowers an ecosystem of millions of developers.
Mark Thompson, Developer Advocate on Angular Team at Google
Source: Angular Blog
Disadvantages and Advantages of Angular
You already have learned about React’s pros and cons, so it’s time to find out why it’s a great idea to choose Angular (or not).
✅ Pros |
❌ Cons |
Better error handling |
Huge size |
Cleaner code |
Limited SEO options |
Custom directives |
Performance |
Higher performance |
Steep learning curve |
Simpler Development with Standalone Components |
|
Material Design-like interface |
|
Seamless updates thanks to Angular CLI |
Use Cases for Angular
Angular applications and websites are used across numerous industries and organizations.
Enterprise-Grade Applications – Angular offers opinionated structure, TypeScript support, and built-in features (like dependency injection) making it great for enterprise applications. Example: Deutsche Bank
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) – Angular provides built-in support for PWAs, and is mobile-friendly for web applications. Example: Forbes
Large-Scale SaaS Platforms – Framework’s built-in features like HTTP services, state management, and CLI tools make it suitable for large SaaS platforms. Example: HubSpot
Now, let’s look at how Angular and React compare to one another.
Key Differences Between Angular and React: Head-to-Head Comparison
React JS |
Angular |
|
Developed by |
||
Programming Language |
JavaScript/TypeScript |
TypeScript |
Compatibility |
Full backward compatibility |
Updates needed |
Data binding |
One-way binding |
Two-way binding |
DOM |
Virtual DOM |
Real DOM |
React vs Angular: Library vs Framework
It might seem like Angular is a better option, as it’s a full-stack MVC (Model-View-Controller) framework that doesn’t require any additional libraries to be complete, which is not like React. Although it is dependent on third-party additions, it’s not necessarily a disadvantage. React gives you almost unlimited possibilities if it comes to building user experience, and what’s more, you can also be quite flexible in choosing which libraries you want to work with.
The Winner
React For Projects Requiring High Flexibility and Custom User Experience
React outperforms Angular when flexibility and customizability are top priorities. As an independent view library, React allows for the creation of dynamic user experiences with the choice to integrate a variety of libraries according to project needs. It’s ideal for projects where building a unique user experience is crucial, and React developer tools let teams choose what’s best for each aspect of their application.
Angular For Projects Needing a Full-Stack Solution
Angular can be the better choice if you’re looking for a comprehensive, out-of-the-box solution. It provides a wide array of built-in functionalities without the need for additional libraries. Angular is particularly suitable for projects where having a cohesive framework that covers everything from frontend to backend (assuming you are using it in conjunction with other full-stack capabilities) is advantageous.
Angular vs React: Performance
DOM Handling: Real vs. Virtual DOM
The fundamental difference in how these technologies handle Document Object Model (DOM) updates impacts performance.
Angular uses a real DOM, meaning every update requires scanning and mutating the entire HTML tree. This works well for applications that don’t change frequently but can slow down performance in highly dynamic UIs. Angular 19 introduces built-in control flow, optimizing template rendering, and improves server-side rendering, which is more efficient for enterprise-scale applications.
Meanwhile, React uses a virtual DOM, which only updates the changed elements, making UI updates much faster. This optimization allows React apps to perform better in scenarios where frequent, real-time data updates occur. React 19 boosted UI responsiveness with Actions, which streamline asynchronous rendering, and Server Components, which shift computation to the backend.
Example of DOM
Rendering Performance
Some features of React introduce performance enhancements for UI responsiveness:
Concurrent Mode, which allows React to prepare multiple UI versions simultaneously, preventing the app from freezing during heavy rendering tasks. It also helps ensure smooth UI transitions even under high load.
React Fiber implements a priority-based update system, meaning critical UI updates happen first. Pausing and resuming rendering tasks it enabled reduces unnecessary delays.
On the Angular side:
- Angular Ivy is a modern rendering engine introduced to reduce build times and app size. It supports the lazy loading of components, improving performance in large applications.
React vs Angular: Data binding
Angular uses two-way data bindings, though one-way is also possible. Two-way data binding means that whenever you change any element of the interface, your model state changes automatically, too.
React uses one-way data binding, which renders the change in the interface model only after the model state is updated first. In one-way data binding, the data flow is unidirectional, which gives developers more flexibility and control over mobile and web apps. Whenever you change the UI components, the model state stays the same with no changes.
The Winner
Angular For Applications with Rare Updates
Angular fits projects that focus on single-page applications where the content does not change very often. Since Angular uses the real DOM, updates are handled efficiently in a structured manner. Angular excels for applications where the data structure is relatively static, and stability and reliability matter more than fast content changes.
React For Highly Dynamic Applications with Frequent Content Updates
React library is better suited for applications that require frequent updates and dynamic content changes. React’s virtual DOM implementation allows it to quickly identify changes between the current and previous states of the HTML, updating only what’s necessary. This results in improved performance and faster loading times, making React faster than Angular and ideal for interactive user interfaces where the data or content changes regularly.
Angular vs React: Learning curve
Since React is a lightweight UI library, its learning curve is much simpler than in Angular. The list of things you have to get familiar with is quite short: JSX, a router library, and a state management library. Also, using React requires knowledge of writing components, managing internal state, and using props.
As it’s a complete MVC framework, it’s not as easy to learn Angular. The list of things to study is much longer than for React.js:
TypeScript
Components
Decorators
Dependency Injection
Modules
Pipes
Services
Templates
And that’s just a start, which means Angular has a steeper learning curve for most developers.
The Winner
Compared to Angular, it’s easier to learn React, as it has a lower learning curve and more resources available, as we will find out in the next section.
React vs Angular: Popularity
The popularity of any particular Javascript framework or web technology can be a great source of information and insights. Looking at these stats will help you answer questions like:
Is this a serious technology?
Is there a demand for this technology?
Will it be easy to find and hire developers?
How big is the community?
What kind of help can I expect from the community?
To determine the popularity of React and Angular, I checked sites like Github, Stack Overflow Trends, and Stack Overflow 2024 Annual Survey.
Stack Overflow Trends
ReactJS is much more popular than Angular. Since 2019 the number of questions about Angular has decreased, and React had a small drop since 2022.
Source: Stack Overflow Trends
Most Popular Web Frameworks and Technologies Stack Overflow 2024 Survey
For the last few years, React has kept second place among the most common web frameworks and technologies according to the Stack Overflow Survey, while Angular came sixth.
Source: Stack Overflow 2024 Survey
Angular vs ReactJS on GitHub
React JS on GitHub
Source: GitHub
Angular on GitHub
Source: Github
The Winner
React.js, without a doubt. While the Angular community is strong, React is a popular choice. Its developers are more numerous thanks to the library’s widespread adoption, which means a larger pool of experienced devs and more community-driven solutions available.
React vs Angular: Templates
Angular HTML
Angular framework uses templates based on an extended version of HTML with Angular directives. The syntax of those directives is complex and sophisticated, making it one more thing to learn from the basics.
React JSX
With React all you need is JavaScript knowledge. A JSX is a genius component made from markup and JavaScript logic in the same file. Thanks to the use of XML-like language, you can write your markup in your JavaScript code, so everything is in one place, and the code completion works better.
The Winner
React For Developer Experience and Productivity
React and JSX might be preferred for their simplicity and the unified way of handling logic and markup. The ability to use JavaScript for both can make development faster and more intuitive, especially for those already proficient in JavaScript.
Angular For Structured Development and Complex Applications
Angular could be the better choice for projects that benefit from a clear separation between templates and logic. Its sophisticated templating system is powerful for building complex, large-scale applications, albeit with a steeper learning curve.
React For Flexibility vs. Structure
If your project values flexibility and a less opinionated approach, React’s JSX is the winner. For projects requiring a more structured and comprehensive framework, Angular’s template system comes out ahead.
Angular vs React.js: Testing
React uses Jest (sometimes together with Enzyme – a JavaScript testing utility). Jest has a powerful mocking library, doesn’t require any configuration, and is included in every React project. However, nowadays using react-testing-library is more common and practiced.
The Angular CLI downloads all the tools you need for testing with a Jasmine test framework. Angular has multiple features, such as isolation of the unit of code, and was created with testability in mind, but many Angular developers find the output from Jasmine rather difficult to read.
The Winner
React For Ease of Setup and Use
React might have an edge due to Jest’s zero-configuration setup and the intuitive approach of the React Testing Library. This combination makes it easier for developers to write and maintain tests, especially for those who are new to testing.
Angular For a Behavior-Driven Development Approach
Angular with Jasmine is powerful for developers who prefer a more traditional, behaviour-driven approach to writing tests. It offers comprehensive testing capabilities, albeit with a steeper learning curve in interpreting test results.
React For Developer Preference and Community Support
React’s testing tools are widely adopted and have strong community support, which can be advantageous for finding resources and troubleshooting issues. Angular’s Jasmine also has good support, but its complexity might be a barrier for some developers.
Angular For Integration with Framework
Angular’s testing tools are designed to work seamlessly with its architecture, making it a solid choice for testing Angular-specific features. React’s tools, while flexible, are more generalized and not tied to any specific architectural patterns.
React or Angular: Which to Choose for Your Project?
Deciding between Angular and React for web development projects is not a straightforward choice, as both frameworks are capable of delivering high-quality applications. Your final choice should depend on the specific needs of the project, the team’s expertise, and the desired development experience.
Angular is best suited to build complex applications, as it provides a structured environment that includes everything developers need. Its use of TypeScript improves code quality and maintainability and an opinionated approach to architecture ensures consistency across projects. This makes Angular better than React for enterprise-level applications requiring a standardized development process.
Meanwhile, React stands out for its flexibility and simplicity of integrating JavaScript logic with the UI. The component-based architecture of React lets developers reuse UI components, which promotes a more efficient development process. React’s virtual DOM implementation addresses performance challenges effectively, making it ideal for applications that require frequent dynamic updates.
Why Did We Chose React
As a React and React Native agency, we naturally gravitate towards React for several reasons:
Performance: React’s virtual DOM makes it well-suited for applications where performance and responsiveness are critical.
Frontend Freedom: It allows us to tailor the frontend experience precisely to our project’s needs without being constrained by a framework’s limitations.
Cross-Platform Development: With React Native, we can extend our web development expertise into building native mobile applications, assuring a unified development experience.
Community and Ecosystem: The React ecosystem is vast and keeps growing. This provides us with a wealth of libraries, tools, and resources that improve our development capabilities and lets us stay at the forefront of web and mobile app development.
Developer Experience: React is designed to be simple, which makes it a pleasure to work with. Our developers can focus on creating innovative solutions instead of wrestling with the framework.
To sum up, while Angular is a powerful framework for building sophisticated web applications, our preference for React stems from its performance capabilities, flexibility, and cohesive development experience. This is especially true when transitioning between web and mobile app development. Thanks to that, we can deliver exceptional applications that meet our client’s needs while staying true to our expertise.
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